LOME-
The city of Lomé, Togo, became the focal point of Africa’s integration agenda this morning as the African Air Transport Convention & Expo 2026 officially opened under the patronage of Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of Togo. The landmark gathering brought together some of the continent’s most influential leaders and policymakers, including Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, as Special Guest of Honour and Olusegun Obasanjo, former Head of State, Nigeria among a distinguished array of guests committed to advancing Africa’s economic transformation.
The opening ceremony and subsequent high-level discussions delivered a unified and compelling message: Africa’s economic integration cannot be achieved without greater connectivity, improved mobility, and the dismantling of barriers that continue to divide the continent.
Participants emphasized that while Africa has made significant progress through continental frameworks and trade agreements, challenges related to transportation, visa restrictions, and limited intra-African connectivity remain major obstacles to realizing the continent’s full economic potential.
A central theme of the convention was the critical role of air transport in accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Leaders and industry stakeholders underscored that efficient air connectivity is not merely a transportation issue but a strategic economic imperative capable of driving trade, investment, tourism, innovation and people-to-people exchanges across Africa’s 54 nations.
Speaking during the high-level roundtable, Wamkele Mene, AfCFTA Secretary General highlighted the importance of facilitating the temporary movement of businesspersons across African borders. He stressed that entrepreneurs and investors should be able to travel freely within the continent to conduct business without facing cumbersome visa procedures.
According to him, the objective is not permanent migration but rather enabling Africans to seize economic opportunities across borders efficiently and return home without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.
His remarks resonated strongly with delegates, reinforcing the idea that trade agreements alone cannot deliver prosperity unless supported by practical measures that allow people, goods and services to move freely.
The discussions reflected growing recognition that connectivity and mobility are fundamental pillars for unlocking the full benefits of the AfCFTA and creating a truly integrated African marketplace.
The convention also highlighted the importance of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a flagship initiative designed to liberalize air transport services across the continent. Advocates argue that a fully operational SAATM would reduce travel costs, increase flight frequencies, enhance competition among airlines, and make it easier for Africans to connect with one another for business, tourism and cultural exchanges.
For many delegates, the vision presented in Lomé was both simple and transformative: one integrated African market supported by seamless connectivity in the skies. The slogan “One Market. One Sky.” emerged as a powerful rallying call, symbolizing the continent’s aspiration to eliminate artificial barriers and create an environment where African businesses and citizens can thrive across borders.
As Africa continues its journey toward economic integration, the African Air Transport Convention & Expo 2026 stands as a reminder that the future of the continent depends not only on trade agreements and policy frameworks but also on the ability of Africans to move, connect and collaborate without restrictions.
The discussions in Lomé have once again placed connectivity at the heart of Africa’s development agenda, reaffirming that the path to prosperity lies in creating a truly connected continent.
With renewed political commitment and growing support for initiatives such as AfCFTA and SAATM, the message from Lomé is unmistakable: Africa’s future is interconnected, and the time has come to transform the vision of one market and one sky into reality.
